Sky gives users a glance at its future networked set-top box

Sky has given customers an insight into what their home entertainment system could look like by 2012 as it unveiled a prototype of its networked Sky + HD set-top box.

Although the provider was careful to reiterate the plans are just at the moment a “concept”, a short film was released at the IPTV World Forum 2009 at Olympia, London this week giving a glimpse into the workings of set-top boxed linked up to a broadband connection.

The promotional film showed a family with two computers and three televisions having their new Sky+ HD service installed:

“Sky HD is quick and easy to set up, the engineer connects the Sky + HD box to a satellite dish and Sky Broadband,” explained the film. “He makes sure all two are connected and operating and access to the internet and home network are set up.”

With multiple digiboxes set up throughout the house, Sky hinted there would be scope for home users to be able to access a “shared planner”:

“The engineer then installs additional digiboxes for the other TVs in the house. These are networked together. The whole family can now view all channels and access any shared content on any TV or PC,” explained the film.

Digging further into the potential for a broadband networked set-top box technology site, Tech Radar caught up with Sky’s director of OnDemand, Griff Parry asking him to explain in more detail what the scope is for Sky’s Ethernet-ready HD boxes to be hooked up to broadband. Unfortunately, he was reluctant to give too much away.

“I should reiterate this isn’t a timeline, just a concept at the moment,” said Parry. “But we have been open in our desire to close the circle and provide this type of functionality.”

For more information on Sky’s current bundled products, visit Broadband Genie’s dedicated provider page.
 

• Latest
• Most viewed